déchet
/de.ʃɛ/
The French word for waste is déchet.
The word déchet is used to refer to useless by-products or garbage.
Meaning: useless by-products, garbage (noun)
Which one should you use?
While déchet refers to the material itself, such as refuse or waste, it is distinct from the word gaspillage, which refers to the act of wasting resources like food or time.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun is masculine, meaning it is preceded by le or un. The plural form is created by adding an s to the end, resulting in déchets.
How do you pronounce it?
/de.ʃɛ/
Did you know?
- French distinguishes between déchet and ordure. While déchet can be recycled or reused, ordure refers to filth or waste that is completely disgusting and must be thrown away.
- The word déchet can be used metaphorically in old French literature to describe a 'fall from grace' or a loss of social status, mirroring its root meaning of falling.
- In France, the tri sélectif is the cultural practice of sorting déchets into different colored bins. This is a deeply ingrained social habit that is more strictly followed than in many English-speaking countries.
Examples in context
- Les chutes sont des déchets.Kerf is waste.This sentence is useful for describing how kerf is considered waste.Tatoeba #2030950 by sacredceltic, translation #2030844 by halfb1t
- Le recyclage réduit la pollution et les déchets.Recycling reduces pollution and waste.This sentence shows how recycling can reduce pollution and waste.Tatoeba #2001425 by nimfeo, translation #4877585 by jshholland
- Les déchets d'usines polluent quelquefois nos rivières.Factory waste sometimes pollutes our rivers.This sentence illustrates how factory waste can pollute rivers.Tatoeba #8626 by dominiko, translation #240740 by CM
- Il ne faut pas gaspiller l'eau potable.We must not waste drinking water.
- Elle a gaspillé son argent dans des achats inutiles.She wasted her money on unnecessary purchases.
- Je ne veux pas perdre mon temps avec des réunions inutiles.I don't want to waste my time on pointless meetings.
- Il a perdu beaucoup de temps à cause de cette panne d'électricité.He wasted a lot of time because of that power outage.
- Elle a gâché la soirée en se disputant avec son ami.She spoiled the evening by arguing with her friend.
- 10 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Manon and Lucas are cleaning up the kitchen after cooking.
- ManonOù est le bac à déchet ?Where is the waste bin?
- LucasC'est juste là, sous l'évier.It is right there, under the sink.
- ManonIl y a trop de déchet ici.There is too much waste here.
- LucasJe vais sortir la poubelle maintenant.I will take out the trash now.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry déchet, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
